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How Does God View Sin?
Sin is a violation of the Law of God. First John 3:4 says, "Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law." "All unrighteousness is sin." (1 John 5:17) Sin is any action, word, thought or any failure to act that goes against the character of God or against faith and trust in Him. Our entire life must be directed upon the truths expressed in the Bible. Without following the standards of the Bible our society becomes more and more corrupt. Any time we leave God's standard we find ourselves in sin and rebellion against our Maker. Sin is a violation of the character of God and His laws, as revealed on the pages of Scripture and that is all we need to know. But, how does God view sin?
God views sin as self-destructive and defiling. Sin is more destructive to the sinner than to the person wronged by him. Psalm 140:11 says, "Let not an evil speaker be established in the earth: evil shall hunt the violent man to overthrow him." Sin hunts the sinner down and overthrows him. Solomon said, "But he that sinneth against me wrongeth his own soul: all they that hate me love death." (Proverbs 8:36) Sin may be acceptable and respectable to the world, but it is very destructive to the sinner.
God views sin as separating and alienating. Sin separates people from their money. It separates them from loved ones. But more than anything else sin separates us from God. Isaiah wrote, "Behold, the LORD'S hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear: But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear." (Isaiah 59:1-2) Sin separates and it alienates you from the only one that can help! No more tragic separation can exist than the separation of a soul from God. Sin separates you from the blessings and the righteousness that could be yours in Christ. Adam and Eve found themselves separated from God by sin. (Genesis 4:23-24) This is true not only for them but for all sinner. The final and the worst thing is that sin separates you from Heaven. (Revelation 21:8)
God views sin as a universal problem. Sin is the problem of all mankind. Solomon wrote, “For there is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not." (Ecclesiastes 7:20) God saw the universal need of a Savior. Isaiah 53:6 says, "All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all." All sin and disappoint our Creator. "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God." (Romans 3:23) Even Christians sin. John said, "If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us." (1 John 1:8)
God views sin as inexcusable. The evidence is so great that God is real to disobey Him is inexcusable. "For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse." (Romans 1:20) The blood of Christ is the ultimate proof of just how inexcusable sin is. "God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him." (Romans 5:8-9) Anything that would demand the death of God's Son for forgiveness is without excuse.
God views sin as foolish, disobedient and enslaving. Paul wrote, "For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another." (Titus 3:3) What could be more unwise or foolish than rebellion against your Maker? Sinners are disobedient people. They are disobedient to parents, to the laws of the land, but more than that they are disobedient to God and to the character of their own heart. Those in sin become enslaved in all kinds of wickedness. They serve divers lusts and pleasures. They indulge in all kinds of corrupt passions and evils. They literally become slaves or servants of sin. "Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?" (Romans 6:16) The sinner is enslaved in all kinds of maliciousness, envy and hatefulness.
God views sin as repulsive. We sin when we have our way instead of allowing God to have his way. But how much does this matter to God? God cannot tolerate sin. He hates it so much that He will not even look upon it. "Thou art of purer eyes than to behold evil, and canst not look on iniquity: wherefore lookest thou upon them that deal treacherously, and holdest thy tongue when the wicked devoureth the man that is more righteous than he?" (Habakkuk 1:13) God hates sin. Because of one sin, Adam and Eve were driven from the Garden of Eden. Sin kept the children of Israel in the wilderness for forty years while an entire generation died. God hides his face from sin. Isaiah wrote, "Your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear." (Isaiah 59:2) Micah describes the reaction of God to the sins of Israel and Judah saying, "Then shall they cry unto the LORD, but he will not hear them: he will even hide his face from them at that time, as they have behaved themselves ill in their doings." (Micah 3:4)
God views sin as forgivable. The need for the entire world is to receive Jesus as Savior. Everyone needs the gospel! Everyone must accept personal responsibility for their sins and take the necessary action to be forgiven! Through an astonishing love Christ took my sins so I could have His righteousness. "For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him." (2 Corinthians 5:21) His love caused Him to “become sin for us.” John 3:16 also describes the “love of God”. Of the love of God F.M. Leham wrote, "Could we with ink the ocean fill, and were the skies of parchment made; were every stalk on earth a quill and every man a scribe by trade; to write the love of God above would drain the ocean dry; nor could the scroll contain the whole tho stretched from sky to sky. O love of God how rich and pure! How measureless and strong! It shall forever more endure the saints and angels song." Now, thank God, sins are forgivable!
God has done His part. He loves every sinner and desperately wants everyone to repent of his sin and receive eternal life. He has provided salvation through Jesus. Man's part, through small, is also necessary to reach heaven. Man must hear the gospel (Romans 10:17), believe in Jesus (Hebrews 11:16), repent of past sins (Acts 17:30), confess Jesus as Lord (Acts 8:36-37), be baptized for remission of sins (Acts 2:38) and live a Christian life. (1 Peter 2:9) God opens His arms to eagerly welcome every sinner to come Him and be a part of His spiritual family, the church. After Jesus Christ died on the cross and ascended back to heaven He left the church with the task of telling the world about Him and what He did for us.
- - - - Charles Box
News & Notes
1. Prayer List: Stabler Hospital: Becky McCeary. In Need Of Prayers: James Arnold (father of Kyle Arnold), Jerry Barr, Jan Blackwell, Shirley Boutwell, Charles Box, Sr., Dannie Box, Ida “Jean” Brazell, Dorothy Buck, Brenda Burkett, Olive George Collins, Marie Curlee, Shirley Curry, Johnny Davis (brother of Eleanor Stabler), Bobby Fullington, Judy Green, Roy Goodwin, Billy Heartsill, Margie Henry (mother of Lora Gail Bagents), Davis Hester, Jeff Hughes, Mary Lawrence, George Lewis, Mable McLain, Renny McNaughton, Roland Mitchell, Reba Miller, Margaret Munro, Curtis Newton, Abby O’Connor (granddaughter of Pat & Jane O’Connor), Cynthia Olive, Jeff Owens, Betty Pitts, Mary Powell, Olivia Reynolds, Zachary Reynolds, Don Shirley, Tete Stabler, Sarah Stidham, Ted Tindal, Corrine Till, Richard Watts, Mary Williams and Kim Willett. Crowne Health Care: Mary Alexander, James Alford, Gene Buck, Gladys Childs, Kathy Johnson, Wallace Murry, and Myrtle Perdue. Pine Needle: Mary Lou Phelps. Georgiana Nursing Facility: Helen Autrey, and Doris Pierce. Shut-Ins: Emma Lee Gafford, Jean Hayes, and Doris Taylor.
2. Baptized Into Christ: Annie Ruth Tetter was baptized into Christ. Her address is Crowne Health Care, 408 Country Club Drive, Greenville, AL 36037. Her birthday is September 30th. Make her feel welcome!
3. Requesting Our Prayers: Pete Smith responded to our Lord’s invitation. Please remember him in your personal, private prayers.
4. Placed Membership: Johnny and Carol McDonald and their two children, John and Erika have placed their membership here at the Walnut Street Church of Christ. Their address is 1519 County Road 14, Range, Alabama 36473 – Phone 251-248-2782 and (cell) 251-238-0649. Their birthdays are: Johnny 10-27, Carol 8-19, John 1-12 and Erika 1-24.
5. Sympathy Expressed: Our love and sympathy is expressed to Steve Hoffman in the death of his aunt, Diane Hoffman.
6. Birthdays: Celebrating a birthday this week are: November 10th David Pate and Pam Till, November 11th Elease Brown, November 14th Jeremiah Holladay and November 15th and Joan Barr.
7. Thank You: (a) The family of Austin Shows would like to thank for the kindness shown to us during Austin’s sickness and his death. The cards, flowers and prayers will always be remembered. Richard Shows & Family (b) Thank you so much for allowing us to use your wonderful Fellowship Hall the other day for our Leadership Conference. You are truly blessed to have such a wonderful facility. Hope we are welcome to use it again. Thanks so much, Carolyn Spear & the staff of L.V. Stabler Memorial Hospital (c) Dear Church Family, Thank you for your prayers, calls, cards and visits. I want to especially thank those who waited with my family during my surgery; you always give us so much love and support. God is so good to me and continues to bless me as I’m home and gaining my strength. Please continue to pray for me, so I can soon be back in worship service with you. Thanks you for the beautiful plant and the food was so good. In Christian love, R.B. (Tete) Stabler
8. Church Building Burns: The building where our brethren met in Hayneville, Alabama burned. Brother Martin McCall is the preacher there. They did have insurance but not nearly enough to replace everything. Send contributions in care of the North Lowndes Church of Christ, P.O. Box 214, Haynesville, Alabama 36040. Be sure to mark the contributions “for Haynesville Church of Christ”.
9. Church Photo Directory: We have started taking pictures for our new church directory on Saturday, November 8th. We ask that everyone be here at your designated time. Also a big thank-you to the Ladies who have offered to help out. If you have any questions, contact Amanda Bagents at 382-3001.
10. Area Event: November 16th-18th – Gospel Meeting – Wald Church of Christ – Speaker Jerry Davidson – Time Sunday Bible Study 10:00 am, Worship 11:00 am and 2:00 pm and weeknights 7:30 pm.
Let Us Have A Righteous Life
For the past few weeks, we have noticed some lessons that teach us ways in which we can be pleasing to God. The Bible teaches us how to mold our lives in a way that pleases God. God wants us to be perfect. God knows that no man can live in sinless perfection, but He still sets that perfection as the goal for man to achieve. “Ye therefore shall be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect” (Matthew 5:48). “But like as he who called you is holy, be ye yourselves also holy in all manner of living” (1 Peter 1:15). “And every one that hath this hope set on him purifieth himself, even as he is pure” (1 John 3:3). In these passages, God’s nature becomes man’s law. God wants holiness, purity, and perfection in our lives. If we are going to live this righteous life, we need to stay away from some things in this world.
One action that we need to stay away from to live holy, pure, and perfect lives for God is drinking. Fifty percent of all crimes are committed by people who are under the influence of alcohol. More than 100,000 deaths a year are caused by alcohol. Alcohol kills 6½ times more youth than all other illicit drugs combined. It is obvious that alcohol is certainly a tool of Satan. Furthermore, it is obvious that we need to stay as far from alcoholic beverages as we can.
There are many other ways Satan pulls us from living righteous lives. Dancing is another action of which we need to keep ourselves clear. The sexual suggestion is clear in modern dance. We know its appeal, its dangers, and its damning influence. We must stay away from dancing. Also, drugs need to be avoided at all costs. Just like drinking and dancing, drugs have become socially accepted. All three of these things cause terrible results. We need to realize the teachings of the Bible on this subject. “Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31). Our bodies are not our own (1 Corinthians 6:19-20), and we need glorify God with them. With our lives, let us be holy, let us be pure, and let us be perfect.
- - - - Jeff Stacy
The solution to all the problems of the world can be found in the Bible.
Don’t just own a Bible; read it!
Walnut Street Church of Christ
P.O. Box 551
Greenville, Alabama 36037-0551
(334-382-3001)